Guilty pleas expected in Michigan faulty missile welds investigation

A father and son at a Michigan metal business have agreed to plead guilty in an investigation of faulty welds on Tomahawk missiles.

Dennis Frederick and Brian Frederick of Precision Metal Spinning in Fenton are scheduled to appear in Flint federal court Wednesday.

Their business had a contract to weld seams on the outer wall assembly of missile engines. But they had difficulty meeting specifications and gave the work to a Chicago company without telling the government. The government says cracks were discovered in 2011.

Eighty-three metal assemblies were scrapped and 2,700 more had to be inspected.

Court filings show Dennis Frederick and son Brian Frederick have agreed to plead guilty to making false statements. The government is recommending 18 months in prison.